WP1: Central feedback node, monitoring and evaluation

Objective:
Ensure optimal information exchange between project work packages and provide a synthesis of project results and lessons learned, also in relation to the GEO process
There are two main areas for business opportunities of Earth observation applications for environment.

The first is “payment for ecosystem services”. If environmental externalities are accounted for in economic practices, then it is possible to create a market environment. Earth observation is then a perfect instrument to monitor and assess environmental change. The second is “you can only manage what you can measure”. This means that for sound environmental management, processes have to be modelled and monitored. The role
of Earth observation here is to support (inter-)government agencies in environmental management. Business opportunities for private enterprise will present themselves with public organizations as clients.

The tasks of this work package have a support function towards the regional work packages and the other general work packages. It is work package number 1, because it has a central role in the project, but does not contain a management function. The management function is allocated to, and described in, work package 14.

Task T1.1- Information gathering and processing
Building on the experiences of the GEONetCab, EGIDA, OBSERVE, BalkanGEONet, enviroGRIDs and SEOCA projects, information on business opportunities is gathered and processed. The task focuses on assembling the experiences of the different project regions (and other regions) and processing the information to identify as many feasible opportunities for economic empowerment through Earth observation. An important element
is keeping the marketing toolkits up-to-date (for an example see annex 7) and developing as many success stories as possible (see annex 8 for an example). In the process, the information coming from the regions is synchronized and general tendencies (and differences) are recorded, resulting in an output that describes good practices and conditions for success.

Task T1.2- Information exchange
Based on the previous task feedback to the project regions is provided and interaction between the regions and between support packages is facilitated, where added value can be obtained. The task helps to identify winners in the regions and takes part in promotional activities where necessary. In addition, information is also exchanged with the GEO process, as the project contributes to tasks ID-02, ID-03, ID-04 and ID-05 of the GEO Work Plan 2012 -2015. In fact, implementation of the EOPOWER project ensures the achievement of the objectives of GEO Task ID-05-C1 “Resource mobilization for capacity building” and can therefore be stated as a deliverable (although the GEO work plan 2012 – 2015 ends half a year after the end of the project it is a safe assumption that by the end of EOPOWER there will be sufficient evidence to demonstrate the deliverable)

Task T1.3- Evaluation and synthesis
The task focuses on the “meta-impact” of project activities: not only on the output of the tasks themselves, but on what the actual impact of the tasks is, viewed from a wider perspective on economic development. On the basis of tasks 1.1 and 1.2 general lessons are drawn and used for a refining of the strategy for empowerment and economic development. Local SME are supported in the form of provision of templates for a business plan (market, business model, organization and management, finance, legal aspects, time schedule, risk assessment).
The output is reflected in the final project report. The task also uses the experiences of the project in measuring impact (qualitatively, quantitatively and monetary) to help to improve the tools for monitoring and evaluation of the GEO Work Plan 2012 – 2015.